?'^ 3 / 
339 . 
STRONGYLUS IMPERIALIS. 
Order Coleoptera. Fam. Nitidulidse Curt . Necrophagi Lat. 
Type of the Genus , Nitidula strigata Fab. 
Strongylus Herb., Steph., Curt. — Nitidula Fab.,Oliv., Marsh., Panz. 
— Sphseridium Panz. 
Antennce inserted before and close to the eyes, longer than the 
head, capitate, 11 -jointed, basal joint oblong, more robust than 
the 7 following which are slender, 2d and 3d joints of equal 
length, the former the stoutest, 4th and 5th equal but shorter, 
6th, 7th, and 8th very short, the latter cup-shaped, the remain- 
der forming a robust club pubescent and pilose, the 9th and 10th 
joints cup-shaped, the latter rather the shortest, 11th a little 
smaller and mamillate (6). 
Labrurn apparently united to the clypeus, which is slightly emar- 
ginate and densely pubescent beneath (1). 
Mandibles crossing, broad and flat, the apex forming a large 
tooth, below which on the inside are a few long hairs and an 
elongated coriaceous margin, lobed above and ciliated (2). 
Maxillae terminated by a very long and pubescent lobe. Palpi 
rather short, 4-jointed, 3 first joints small, nearly of equal size, 
3d long almost linear, truncated at the apex (3). 
Mentum transverse, the sides convex, anterior margin slightly 
concave. Lip large subquadrate-cordate, the anterior margin 
pubescent, forming two lobes. 
Palpi triarticulate, basal joint minute, 2d short subobtrigonate, 
3d longer curved and truncated (4). 
Head very broad. Eyes remote lateral small and not prominent. Tho- 
rax broad and convex, semiovate, the base sinuated, the anterior 
margin convex in the centre, the angles a little produced, the sides 
not depressed. Scutellum rather small and triangular. Elytra 
semioval, being truncated at the base, rounded at the apex, and com- 
pletely covering the abdomen. Wings very ample. Thighs oval, 
compressed, with a groove beneath to receive the Tibiae which are di- 
lated towards the apex, where they are armed with numerous spines, 
the 4 posterior serrated on the outside with spiny bristles. Tarsi 
5 -jointed, 3 first joints dilated, somewhat cordiform and clothed with 
long pubescence on the sides beneath, 4th small and. slender, 5th equal 
in length to the others and clavate. Claws simple. (5, a fore leg : 
5f , hind leg). 
Imperialis Fab. Ent. Syst. v. I . pars 1 . p. 257 . n. 10. Curtis's Guide, 
Gen. 1 48. 2. — nebulosa Marsh. 
Pale ferruginous, pubescent, very thickly and minutely punc- 
tured, with a few scattered yellow hairs ; club of the antennae 
(excepting the apex), and base of the head, piceous : disc of the 
thorax piceous, the posterior outline very much sinuated and 
leaving a broad ferruginous margin : elytra variegated with 5 or 
6 ochreous and 4 piceous spots, the lower one forming a large 
crescent. 
In the Author's and other Cabinets. 
